Having finished second at the Rackley Roofing 200 in Gladeville, Tennessee, Daniel Dye was looking to build on that momentum at Pocono Raceway in the NASCAR Truck Series. Dye, who is currently 10th in the standings, is eligible for playoffs through points but was hoping that ‘The Tricky Triangle’ would prove to be a lucky venue for the 20-year-old’s first victory of the season, especially with just two races remaining for the regular season.

Despite starting the Pocono race in the top 5 and remaining in the hunt for a victory in the opening two stages, Daniel Dye finished 16th. The disappointed Truck Series star had a lot of words for Zane Smith post-race after the McAnally-Hilgemann Racing teammate refused to help.

Daniel Dye hoped for some team spirit from Zane Smith

It’s easy to sympathize with Daniel Dye. After all, his teammate Zane Smith was a lap down and is competing part-time in the NASCAR Truck Series. Struggling for pace in Stage 3, Dye wanted Smith to push his No. 43 Chevrolet Silverado’s rear bumper to gain track positions. Despite making the request and receiving acknowledgment from Smith, the 25-year-old didn’t follow through to help.

Speaking to Frontstretch after the race, a visibly disappointed Daniel Dye said, “I should have been up in 12 when that caution came out for rain and we were 18 so. With Zane’s help, we’d be up there. I can’t be mad for not getting help but if I’m in that situation, I’m going to do everything I can to whoever my teammate is. I even helped him and he was a lap down. I can’t really expect anything, that’s pretty entitled of me to expect something. Just hoping, you know what I mean?”

While helping Daniel Dye may have required some selflessness on Zane Smith’s side, the 25-year-old didn’t have much to lose to begin with. A lap down and nowhere near in contention for a top-10 finish, Smith could have made a much bigger impact in the race by helping his teammate. Despite Daniel Dye’s request being acknowledged by Smith, the Cup driver didn’t follow up on it.

With just two races to go until the regular season ends, Dye is on shaky ground, as his place in the playoffs is purely dependent on circumstances beyond his control. If another driver secures more points or gets their first win of the season, the 20-year-old’s postseason spot will be in jeopardy. As a senior driver, Zane Smith was expected to do better than he did at Pocono Raceway.

Could Zane Smith return to Front Row Motorsports?

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Despite Zane Smith signing a multi-year deal with Trackhouse Racing in 2023, the 25-year-old has been driving for Spire Motorsports this year but is expected to go back in 2025. However, if NASCAR limits teams to three charters, Trackhouse could opt for Shane van Gisbergen as their third Cup driver, with Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez being on the team full-time.

This leaves the door wide open for Zane Smith to make a sensational return to Front Row Motorsports, a possibility that the team’s general manager, Jerry Freeze, isn’t ruling out either.

Speaking to FOX Sports journalist Bob Pockrass, Jerry Freeze said, “If Zane were to be a free agent for next year, I think that’s something that we would certainly be interested in for sure. I don’t know if he is, but we really believe in Zane’s talent, and I think he’s going to be a star. Everybody’s gotta go through that learning curve in the Cup Series. He’s no different than Todd was or Austin Cindric or some of the other guys. I think he’s a star in the making.”

In the 20 races Zane Smith has competed in for Spire Motorsports this season, the 25-year-old has been less than impressive, with just one top-10 finish. Currently ranked 34th in the drivers standings, he has the lowest finish amongst drivers who have competed in every race of the season. If he wants to retain his seat in the Cup Series next year, Zane Smith will have to significantly improve his performances in the remaining six races of the regular season.

Do you think Zane Smith was wrong in not helping teammate Daniel Dye?